Expert Talks: Insights and Innovations in Automotive

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes Dimitrius Naylor, the "Equity King" and CEO of Dimitrius Naylor Consulting, to the I’m a Car Chick podcast live from NADA 2026. In this high-velocity episode, Dimitrius breaks down why the service drive is the most underutilized goldmine in the dealership. He dives into the "Service-to-Sales" transition, explaining how to identify high-equity customers and why the "equity" conversation is about more than just a monthly payment—it's about wealth management for the con...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes three-time guest Darrell Steed back to the I’m a Car Chick podcast live from the floor of NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. In this high-energy session, Darrell cuts through the "AI buzz" to address the real reason dealerships fail to execute: a lack of human connection and leadership involvement. He challenges the industry to shift its mindset from "selling cars" to "acquiring customers and vehicles," proving that a dedicated focus on the used car lane is the true engine behi...

Host Shasta Haddock is reunited with one of her favorite industry voices, Brooke C. Furniss, live at NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. After a year-long hiatus that left the industry asking "Where is Brooke?", the host of the Facts Not Feelings podcast pulls back the curtain on the reality of content burnout and the intense preparation required to stay at the top of the podcasting game. They discuss Brooke's upcoming relaunch in April, the shift toward "walk and talk" content, and why she’s traded the neg...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes Bri Newman, CEO at HR4, to the booth at NADA 2026 for an inspiring conversation on the heartbeat of the dealership: the people. Bri shares her journey from speaking at the Women in Automotive conference to leading operations for a company dedicated to transforming human resources in the car business. They discuss why culture is the ultimate competitive advantage, how to build safe and empowering spaces for first-time speakers and employees, and the "refreshing energy...

Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Brad Parker live at NADA 2026 for a conversation a year in the making. From his roots in the yachting industry to building the "Venmo for peer-to-peer car sales," Brad explains how his latest technology is helping dealers tap into an unlimited source of growth: private seller acquisitions. They discuss why dealers must move beyond auction reliance, the importance of "incentivized" acquisition roles, and how to build a transactional workflow so simple that anyon...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes back industry veteran and leadership expert Glenn Pasch live at NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. In this deep-dive episode, Glenn discusses the impact of his book and new video series, You’re in Charge, Now What?, which helps leaders move beyond generalities to achieve true team alignment. They explore why "asking better questions" is the secret to uncovering the behaviors that drive results and how a lack of clarity is often the biggest hurdle for dealership teams. Glenn sha...

Host Shasta Haddock catches up with Drew Williams, Creative Director at Authenticom, for an off-the-cuff deep dive into the power of branding in the automotive industry. Live from NADA 2026, Drew shares his journey from a graphic design student to the mastermind behind Authenticom’s recognizable visual identity. They discuss why brand consistency is the "unfair advantage" for dealers and vendors alike, and how intentional design changes the way people perceive and do business. Drew also highligh...

Host Shasta Haddock wraps up Day 1 at NADA 2026 with a high-impact conversation featuring Amberly Allen, a true automotive industry trailblazer and the force behind Dealer Merchant Services (DMS) powered by Priority. In this episode, Amberly breaks down the "meat and potatoes" of how dealers can stop leaving money on the table through cash discounting and smarter merchant service strategies. She warns about the serious legal audit ramifications and sales tax compliance issues for dealers trying ...

Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Molly Kristick, Vice President of Marketing at TrueCar, live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2026. Molly shares her incredible journey from selling newspaper ads in "Wheels For You" magazine to leading the marketing strategy for one of the biggest names in digital automotive retail. They discuss the shifting landscape of consumer engagement, the fulfillment of helping car buyers find the right price, and the current "weird game" of LinkedIn networking. Molly...

In this episode of the I'm a Car Chick podcast, host Shasta Haddock welcomes Kelly Ann Sparks-Berger, Amazon Sale Strategist at Dealer eProcess (DEP), for a deep dive into the evolution of digital marketing in the automotive world. Recorded live from NADA 2026, Kelly Ann explains how Amazon's behavioral data is a game-changer for dealers, allowing them to move away from "blanketed" marketing toward a highly targeted, "sniped" strategy that actually reflects how buyers shop online today. They dis...

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by Jason Tryfon, CEO of Authenticom, for a high-speed deep dive into the digital infrastructure powering the automotive industry. Live from NADA 2026, Jason reveals how Authenticom has evolved from the industry's "best-kept secret" into the essential backbone for hundreds of vendors. They discuss the critical importance of Data Experience Management (DXM), the "no-brainer" value of the free Dealer Vault tool for data hygiene, and how AI is set to transform 2030 reta...

Join host Shasta Haddock for a high-stakes episode of the I’m a Car Chick podcast , live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2026. In this candid sit-down, NADA President Mike Stanton and Authenticom Founder Steve Cottrell pull no punches regarding the future of the automotive industry. Stanton reveals why he is "pissed" about misguided direct-to-consumer sales efforts and details how NADA is utilizing its legal defense fund to litigate and protect the franchise dealer model. The conversation ...

In this episode of I’m a Car Chick, Shasta sits down with Kristin Kolodge, Vice President and Head of Auto Benchmarking and Mobility Development at J.D. Power — a woman whose work quite literally shapes the global automotive industry. Kristin oversees the world’s most influential vehicle quality and customer experience studies, including the Initial Quality Study (IQS), APEAL, VDS, and TXI, along with J.D. Power’s future mobility research. If you’ve ever seen a commercial where a manufacturer br...

In Part 2 of Shasta’s conversation with Gayle Rogers of The Atomic Agency, they go from theory to step-by-step execution. If Part 1 was the why, this is the how. Gayle walks through exactly how he uses long-form video, AI, and a simple system to help businesses create consistent, local, authority-building content without needing a full production team. In this episode, they cover: ● The tech stack Gayle recommends for recording and repurposing content (hello, Riverside) ● How to turn one conver...

In this episode of I’m a Car Chick, Shasta sits down with Gayle Rogers, founder of The Atomic Agency, to talk about what real marketing looks like for dealerships in 2025 and beyond. Gayle has worn all the hats — agency, OEM, and in-dealership marketing — and he breaks down how those experiences shaped his approach to helping stores stop “doing ads” and start actually showing up in their communities. In Part 1, we talk about: ● How Gayle got his start in automotive at J. Walter Thompson in De...

In this inspiring episode of I’m a Car Chick, Shasta sits down with Dara Koenig — author, coach, speaker, and all-around champion for women chasing purpose and growth. Dara’s career has spanned every corner of empowerment — from corporate marketing and recruiting to launching a nonprofit uplifting women, career coaching, and publishing her devotional series. Through every chapter, her focus has remained the same: helping others rise. Together, Shasta and Dara talk about: ●Turning purpose into i...

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What happens when a Wall Street finance pro jumps into the world of automotive tech? 🚗💡 In this episode of the I’m a Car Chick Podcast, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Lauren Langston, President & CEO of Tekmetric, to talk about leadership, innovation, and how technology is reshaping the auto repair industry. From startup strategy and AI to technician burnout and independent shop growth, Lauren shares her journey from investing in software to leading a company that’s changing the game for ...

In Part 2 of Shasta’s conversation with Tracey Fields, Chief Experience Officer at Premier Automotive Group, we explore a defining chapter in both her career and the company’s history: Hurricane Katrina. Tracey shares her firsthand experience of how Katrina impacted New Orleans, the community, and Premier Auto Group—and the leadership lessons that emerged in the aftermath. Nearly 30 years into her career, she reflects on how the business has evolved and how resilience shaped her perspective on g...

In this episode of I’m a Car Chick, Shasta sits down with Tracey Fields, Chief Experience Officer at Premier Automotive Group. With nearly 30 years in the industry, Tracey has been instrumental in shaping Premier into a nationally recognized dealership network with over 35 locations. Tracey’s leadership is centered on one thing: creating an experience that sets dealerships apart. From facility design and acquisitions to culture-building and online reputation, her work proves that customer experi...

Stephanie is part of a new wave of automotive professionals redefining how cars are sold. With a strong presence on social media (including several viral TikTok videos 🎥✨), she’s building her brand by showing the process of buying a car in a way that’s transparent, fun, and customer-first. In this episode, we talk about: ● How Stephanie uses TikTok and social media to connect with buyers ● Why modern sales processes matter more than ever ● Breaking away from the “old shady” car sales stereotype...

🚗✨ In this episode of I’m A Car Chick, Shasta Haddock sits down with Vivian Liu—CEO and founder of MAE (Making Auto Easy), startup powerhouse, and one of BC Business’s Top 30 Under 30. Oh, and did we mention she’s only 31 years old and has already accomplished what most people hope to do in a lifetime? 👏 Vivian’s journey is straight-up inspiring. At just 21, she dove headfirst into the auto industry after winning a GM marketing competition—eventually managing 30+ dealerships and leading Cadilla...

In this episode of the I'm A Car Chick Podcast, we explore what it really takes to thrive in the automotive industry — from building confidence to embracing authentic leadership. 🚗✨ The conversation highlights how passion, purpose, and resilience come together to help professionals not only stand out but also create lasting impact in their careers and communities. Listeners will hear powerful insights on overcoming challenges, building meaningful connections, and leading with authenticity. Whet...

Fresh off the heels of the Women In Automotive Conference, Shasta sits down with Heather LeMay — Product Manager at The AutoMiner and a powerhouse in data hygiene solutions. Heather brings her passion for clean, quality data and API integrations to the conversation, but also her deep commitment to mentorship and empowering women in automotive. In this episode, they talk about the energy and takeaways from WIA Nashville, the value of mentorship programs, and why building strong connections across...